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Missouri Supreme Court Weighs Cap on Traffic, Court Fees

Missouri Supreme Court
Americasroof
/
Wikimedia Commons

  Missouri Supreme Court judges are weighing arguments over the constitutionality of a law passed in the wake of the unrest in Ferguson that would cap the amount of revenue cities can keep from traffic fines and court fees.

A lawyer for several St. Louis suburbs told judges in the capital courthouse Wednesday that the law unfairly targets those cities.

The law limits most cities to 20 percent of their budgets. St. Louis County municipalities face a 12.5 percent cap.

Legislators passed the law after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, which led to scrutiny of municipal courts in Ferguson and nearby towns.

A state attorney argued that the lower cap is based on population, and other municipalities could face similar restrictions later.

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